Nursing Student HANDBOOK - Harford Community College

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is my clinical placement decided?
Clinical placement is determined by faculty. Both day and evening rotations are necessary in some
courses due to availability of faculty and clinical sites. Clinical placement is made at the discretion of the
nursing faculty. In some cases, placement may be changed by faculty to promote optimal learning.

2. Where do I eat when I'm at the clinical facility?
Meals may be purchased in the cafeteria at most clinical facilities, although lunches/supper may be
brought from home. Mealtime is one-half hour.

3. Do I need liability insurance?
No. Nursing students are covered by a HCC liability insurance policy for experiences during the course
of clinical education.

4. Do I need health insurance?
Some agencies require students to provide evidence that they have health insurance. Please indicate on
your health form whether or not you have health insurance.

5. What do I do in case of inclement weather?
In the event of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on local radio stations and on the HCC
Emergency Information phone line at 443-412-2322. You can register to “HCC Alert me” through
your Owlmail account. You can also visit www.schoolsout.com on the net for information.

6. What are the approximate costs of the nursing program (aside from tuition & fees)?

SEMESTER 1

Non-refundable deposit $50

Uniforms ~$200 (includes 2 scrub tops, 2 pants, 1 lab jacket, socks, shoes, 1 pin)

Equipment ~$60 (stethoscope)

Textbooks ~$550 (will be used throughout the program)
SNA annual dues $35 (includes membership to the National Student Nurses’ Association)

TOTAL ~$850

Admission healthcare related expenses (may or may not be covered by student’s health plan):

Hepatitis B Vaccine for Non-Immune Students: ~$375 (3 injections @ $125 each)

PPD (annual skin test for TB): ~$30

Assessment of Immune Titers (MMR, etc.) lab charge

Annual Flu vaccine ~$30

CPR certification (bi-annual certification) ~$105 (course + book)

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SEMESTER 2

All second semester students are required to initiate a background check and drug screen with Certified
Background. Details will be provided in class, by email, or mail.

Background check and drug screen $69.50

Medical-Surgical Nursing I: ~$190
Textbooks & Course Manuals
~$100
Mental Health Nursing: ~$95
Textbook and Course Manual

Contemporary Issues in Nursing Textbook

Total ~$455

SEMESTER 3

Medical-Surgical Nursing II uses same textbooks, purchase of manuals only

Course Manual ~$20

Maternal-Child Health Nursing: ~$175
Textbooks & Course Manuals

Repeat PPD – varies widely but may be covered by health insurance

Total ~$195

SEMESTER 4 (RELATED TO GRADUATION/ADDITIONAL EXPENSES)

Medical-Surgical Nursing III uses same textbooks, purchase of manuals only

Course Manual ~$20
Graduation Fee no charge
NCLEX Application $200
Board of Nursing Application $100
Passport photos (needed to
submit with NCLEX application) ~$12
Criminal background check ~$70
Nursing School Pin ~$45
Florence Nightingale Lamp $12

TOTAL ~$460

7. What is ATI?
ATI on-line Learning & Assessment (www.atitesting.com) is a corporation that offers an assessment-
driven review program that provides nursing students with testing, feedback and support to better prepare
them for their National Certification Licensing Examination (NCLEX). ATI materials are continually
being updated on-line, and electronic textbook versions are available at the website to supplement and
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update the hard copy versions of ATI materials initially provided to students. All ATI electronic resources,
including textbooks, assessments, assessment scores, and individualized remediation materials, can be
accessed through the ATI website. Students are encouraged to utilize the on-line editions (e-books) of
the Content Mastery Series for the most recent editions.
ATI will be used primarily for self-assessment and remediation in each course. Students may be required
to complete assigned practice and proctored assessments. After completion of an ATI assessment, students
will receive a report of their performance. Based on their individual performance and national
comparisons, ATI then will provide the student with a customized study plan to address identified areas of
weakness.
8. What are the graduation application deadlines?
Students must file an application for graduation in the Office of Registration and Records no later than
March 1 for May graduation, June 1 for August graduation, and October 1 for December graduation.
9. How can I receive Nursing Assistant Certification?
Students completing Fundamentals of Nursing are eligible to apply for certification.
For information regarding Nursing Assistant or Geriatric Nursing Assistant Certification and to request an
application packet, go to the Maryland Board of Nursing web site at www.mbon.org or call 410-585-1990
or 1-877-847-0626. No documentation is needed from the HCC nursing office, but an official transcript
showing your Fundamentals of Nursing (NURS 101) grade must accompany the application when
presented to the Maryland Board of Nursing. A criminal background check is now also required.
Information is included in the application packet.
10. Is an exit exam required in order to take the NCLEX-RN?
Yes, nursing program requirements are not complete until an assessment for readiness for the NCLEX
exam is completed.

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Section

8

HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Nursing Student Handbook

Pathogen
Exposure

Plan

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Pathogen Exposure Procedure

Clinical agencies utilized by the College for clinical practice experiences have written infection control plans
designed to minimize or eliminate exposure to infectious disease.
All students will follow standard precautions and isolation practices as defined by the CDC and the policy and
procedures of the clinical agency.

Procedure for Accidental Exposure, Post Exposure, and Follow-up
The CDC defines a significant exposure to blood or body fluid as “a percutaneous injury (e.g., needle stick or
cut with a sharp object) or contact of mucous membrane or non-intact skin (e.g., exposed skin that is chapped,
abraded, or with dermatitis) with blood, saliva, tissue, or other body fluids that are potentially infectious”.
In the event that this occurs, the nursing student will:

1. Thoroughly wash or rinse (if mucous membrane) the exposed area for 15 minutes
2. Report the incident to the clinical faculty
The clinical faculty will:
1. Report the incident immediately to the appropriate representative at the clinical facility
2. Facilitate completion of the steps for follow up as outlined by the policies and procedures

of the clinical agency
3. Facilitate completion of the following:

a. Contact the Course Coordinator or the Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
b. File an incident report with the HCC Office of Public Safety

Note: All testing and/or treatment after exposure will be at the student’s expense.
06/2015

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Section

9

HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Nursing Student Handbook

Professional
Standards

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Quality and Safety in Nursing Education

Quality and Safety in Nursing Education (QSEN) is one of the professional standards that help to provide a
curriculum framework for the nursing program at Harford Community College. The overall goal of QSEN is to
prepare future nurses with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) necessary to continuously improve the
quality and safety of the healthcare systems in which they work.
QSEN has identified six areas of competencies, each with individual knowledge, skills, and attitudes that
promote quality and safety. The six competencies expected for pre-licensure nursing students are:

 Patient-Centered Care
 Teamwork & Collaboration
 Evidence Based Practice
 Quality Improvement
 Safety
 Informatics
The nursing program student learning outcomes are closely aligned with the six QSEN pre-licensure
competencies.
Please refer to the website for more information. www.qsen.org

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Code of Professional Conduct

National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc.

As a member of the National Student Nurses’ Association, I pledge myself to:

• Maintain the highest standard of personal and professional conduct.
• Actively promote and encourage the highest level of ethics within nursing

education, the profession of nursing, and the student nurses’ association.
• Uphold all Bylaws and regulations relating to the student nurses’ association

at the chapter, state and national levels, reserving the right to criticize rules
and laws constructively, but respecting the rules and laws as long as they
prevail.
• Strive for excellence in all aspects of decision making and management at all
levels of the student nurses’ association.
• Use only legal and ethical principles in all association decisions and activities.
• Ensure the proper use of all association funds.
• Serve all members of the student nurses’ association impartially, provide no
special privilege to any individual member, and accept no personal
compensation from another member or non-member.
• Maintain the confidentiality of privileged information entrusted or known to
me by virtue of an elected or appointed position in the association.
• Refuse to engage in, or condone, discrimination on the basis of race, gender,
age, citizenship, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.
• Refrain from any form of cheating or dishonesty, and take action to report
dishonorable practices to proper authorities using established channels.
• Always communicate internal and external association statements in a
truthful and accurate manner by ensuring that there is integrity in the data
and information used by the student nurses’ association.
• Cooperate in every reasonable and proper way with association volunteers
and staff, and work with them in the advocacy of student rights and
responsibilities and the advancement of the profession of nursing.
• Use every opportunity to improve faculty understanding of the role of the
student nurses association.
• Use every opportunity to raise awareness of the student nurses’ association’s
mission, purpose, and goals at the school chapter level.
• Promote and encourage entering nursing students to join and become active
in NSNA.
• Promote and encourage graduating seniors to continue their involvement by
joining professional nurses’ associations upon licensure as Registered Nurses.

Adopted by the 1999 House of Delegates; Pittsburgh, PA at the 47th Annual NSNA Convention

References: American Society of Association Executives and the National Society for Fund Raising
Executives.

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Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct

National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc.

PREAMBLE

Students of nursing have a responsibility to society in learning the academic theory and clinical skills needed to
provide nursing care. The clinical setting presents unique challenges and responsibilities while caring for
human beings in a variety of health care environments.

The Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct is based on an understanding that to practice nursing as a student
is an agreement to uphold the trust with which society has placed in us. The statements of the Code provide
guidance for the nursing student in the personal development of an ethical foundation and need not be limited
strictly to the academic or clinical environment but can assist in the holistic development of the person.

A CODE FOR NURSING STUDENTS

As students are involved in the clinical and academic environments we believe that ethical principles are a
necessary guide to professional development. Therefore within these environments we;

1. Advocate for the rights of all clients.
2. Maintain client confidentiality.
3. Take appropriate action to ensure the safety of clients, self, and others.
4. Provide care for the client in a timely, compassionate and professional manner.
5. Communicate client care in a truthful, timely and accurate manner.
6. Actively promote the highest level of moral and ethical principles and accept responsibility for our

actions.
7. Promote excellence in nursing by encouraging lifelong learning and professional development.
8. Treat others with respect and promote an environment that respects human rights, values and choice

of cultural and spiritual beliefs.
9. Collaborate in every reasonable manner with the academic faculty and clinical staff to ensure the

highest quality of client care
10. Use every opportunity to improve faculty and clinical staff understanding of the learning needs of

nursing students.
11. Encourage faculty, clinical staff, and peers to mentor nursing students.
12. Refrain from performing any technique or procedure for which the student has not been adequately

trained.
13. Refrain from any deliberate action or omission of care in the academic or clinical setting that creates

unnecessary risk of injury to the client, self, or others.
14. Assist the staff nurse or preceptor in ensuring that there is full disclosure and that proper authorizations

are obtained from clients regarding any form of treatment or research.
15. Abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages or any substances in the academic and clinical setting that

impair judgment.
16. Strive to achieve and maintain an optimal level of personal health.
17. Support access to treatment and rehabilitation for students who are experiencing impairments related to

substance abuse and mental or physical health issues.
18. Uphold school policies and regulations related to academic and clinical performance, reserving the right

to challenge and critique rules and regulations as per school grievance policy.

Adopted by the NSNA House of Delegates, Nashville, TN, on April 6, 2009.

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Social Media Guidelines

Online social media allow HCC nursing students to engage in professional and personal conversations. The goal
of this policy is to protect HCC nursing students as well as the nursing program and Harford Community
College.

The policy represents a set of suggested standards of conduct when students identify themselves with the HCC
Nursing program and is not established as a set of formalized rules that will be enforced with punitive
consequences. The one exception is any violation of patient privacy protected under regulatory or federal
guidelines such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 (P.L. 104-191)
[please refer to Nursing Student Handbook, “Confidentiality and Security of Information”] and private
academic information of another student protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), will be enforced with punitive consequences.

Students are personally responsible for the content they publish on blogs, wikis, social networks, forum boards,
or any other form of user-generated media. Remember that all content contributed on all platforms becomes
immediately searchable and can be immediately shared. This content immediately leaves the contributing
individual’s control forever and may be traced back to the individual after extended periods of time.

This policy is not intended for internet activities that do not associate or identify a student with the HCC nursing
program, do not use HCC email addresses, do not discuss HCC and are purely about personal matters.

I. SPECIFIC INFORMATION

A. Social Media Platforms
Because of the emerging nature of social media platforms, these guidelines do not attempt to name
every current and emerging platform. Rather, they apply to those cited and any other online platform
available and emerging including social networking sites and sites with user-generated content.
Examples include but are not limited to the following:
 YouTube
 Facebook
 iTunes
 LinkedIn
 Twitter
 Blogs

B. Guidelines for Online Professional or Personal Activity:
These guidelines apply to HCC nursing students who identify themselves with HCC and/or use
their HCC email address in social media venues such as professional society blogs, LinkedIn,
Facebook, etc. for deliberate professional engagement or casual conversation.

1. Follow the same HCC Code for Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct behavior, HIPAA,
and general civil behavior guidelines cited in the HCC Student Code and in the Nursing Student
Handbook, including respecting copyrights, and disclosures, intellectual property, etc.
 Protect confidential information. While you are posting to your friends, many of the sites
are open to anyone browsing or searching. Be thoughtful about what you publish. Do not
disclose or use confidential information or that of any other person or agency (the college or
clinical affiliating agencies). Abide by HIPAA regulations. Do not post any information
about your clinical rotations or clients in any online forum or webpage. You may not post

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information regarding patient care or similar sensitive or private content, including of the
posting of any type of client pictures.
 A good rule of thumb is that if you would not want what you posted on a social media site to
be on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper, credited to you, then don’t post it all.

2. If the individual is identified as a HCC nursing student in any online forum and/or using the
HCC email address, the student needs to ensure that it is clear that he or she is not speaking for
HCC, and what they say is representative of their individual personal views and opinions and not
necessarily the views and opinions of HCC.

3. HCC nursing students are thoughtful about how they present themselves as in online networks.
By virtue of self-identifying as part of HCC in such a network, students connect themselves to,
and reflect upon, HCC faculty, staff and even patients and donors.
 Be thoughtful about how you present yourself. HCC nursing students are preparing for a
career providing services to the public. HCC and future employers hold you to a high
standard of behavior. By identifying yourself as a HCC student through postings and
personal web pages, you are connected to your colleagues, clinical agencies, and even
clients/patients. Ensure that content associated with you is consistent with your personal
goals. If you identify yourself as a HCC student, ensure your profile and related content is
consistent with how you wish to present yourself to colleagues, clients, and potential
employers. Remember that all content contributed on all platforms becomes immediately
searchable and can be immediately shared with everyone. This content immediately leaves
the contributing individual students control forever.
 Respect your audience and your co-workers. HCC is an organization whose students,
faculty, and clients have a diverse set of customs, values, and points of view. Don’t be afraid
to be yourself, but respect others. This includes not only the obvious (no ethnic slurs,
personal insults, obscenity, pornographic images, etc.) but also proper consideration of
privacy and of topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory – such as politics
and religion. Remember, what may be humorous to some, may be offensive to others.
Civility is an important component of on-line communication as well.

4. At the end of each course, students are provided an avenue to evaluate course materials/faculty.
Therefore, social media vehicles are considered inappropriate locations to provide this feedback.

References:

American Nurses Association. (2011). Fact sheet: Navigating the world of social media. Retrieved from

http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA/Social-Media

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2011). White paper: A nurse’s guide to the use of social media. Retrieved
from https://www.ncsbn.org/Social_Media.pdf

Created June 2012

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American Nurses Association Standards of Professional Nursing Practice

Standards of Practice

Describe a competent level of nursing care as demonstrated by the critical thinking model known as the nursing
process. The nursing process encompasses significant actions taken by registered nurses and forms the
foundation of clinical decision making.

STANDARD 1. ASSESSMENT

The registered nurse collects comprehensive data pertinent to the client’s health and/ or situation.

STANDARD 2. DIAGNOSIS

The registered nurse analyzes the assessment data to determine the diagnoses or issues.

STANDARD 3. OUTCOMES IDENTIFICATION

The registered nurse identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the client or the situation.

STANDARD 4. PLANNING

The registered nurse develops a plan that prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain expected outcomes.

STANDARD 5. IMPLEMENTATION

The registered nurse implements the identified plan.

STANDARD 5A. COORDIANATION OF CARE

The registered nurse coordinates care delivery.

STANDARD 5B. HEALTH TEACHING AND HEALTH PROMOTION

The registered nurse employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment.

STANDARD 6. EVALUATION

The registered nurse evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes.

Standards of Professional Performance

Describe a competent level of behavior in the professional role. All registered nurses are expected to engage in
professional role activities appropriate to their education and position. Registered nurses are accountable for
their professional actions to themselves, their clients, their peers, and ultimately to society.

STANDARD 7. ETHICS

The registered nurse practices ethically.

STANDARD 8. EDUCATION

The registered attains knowledge and competence that reflects current nursing practice.

STANDARD 9. EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

The registered nurse integrates evidence and research findings into practice.

STANDARD 10. QUATLITY OF PRACTICE

The registered contributes to quality nursing practice.

STANDARD 11. COMMUNICATION

The registered nurse communicates effectively in all areas of practice.
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STANDARD 12. LEADERSHIP

The registered nurse demonstrates leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.

STANDARD 13. COLLABORATION

The registered nurse collaborates with client, family, and others in the conduct of nursing practice.

STANDARD 14. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE EVALUATION

The registered nurse evaluates her or his own nursing practice in relation to professional practice standards and
guidelines, relevant statutes, rules, and regulations.

STANDARD 15. RESOURCE UTILIZATION

The registered nurse utilizes appropriate resources to plan and provide nursing services that are safe, effective,
and financially responsible.

STANDARD 16. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The registered nurse practices in an environmentally safe and healthy manner.

Source: American Nurses Association (2010). Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition. Silver
Spring, MD: Nursebooks.org.

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American Nurses’ Association
Code of Ethics for Nurses
Nine Major Provisions

1. The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and the unique
attributes of every person.

2. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or
population.

3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.
4. The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decisions; and

takes action consistent with the obligation to promote health and to provide optimal care.
5. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and

safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and
professional growth.
6. The nurse, through individual and collective effort, establishes, maintains, and improves the ethical
environment of the work setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe, quality health
care.
7. The nurse, in all roles and settings, advances the profession through research and scholarly inquiry,
professional standards development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.
8. The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote
health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities..
9. The profession of nursing, collectively through its professional organizations, must articulate nursing
values, maintain the integrity of the profession, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and
health policy

From ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses 2015.
The entire Code is available online at www.nursingworld.org.

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Nursing Student Handbook 1

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Appendix

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Nursing Technical and Professional Standards

The technical and professional standards for nursing are the non-academic skills including the physical,
cognitive and behavioral standards required for satisfactory completion of the nursing program. These standards
are not a requirement of admission into the program. However, individuals interested in applying for admission
to the nursing program should review these standards to develop a better understanding of the skills, abilities
and behavioral characteristics required to successfully complete the nursing program. One purpose of this
document is to assure that the students who are interested in the nursing program know and understand the
requirements, and can make informed decisions regarding the pursuit of this profession.

The following technical standards with examples of learning activities reflect the performance abilities and
characteristics that are necessary to successfully complete the requirements of the nursing program which has a
comprehensive clinical component. Students admitted to the nursing program are expected to be able to
complete curriculum requirements which include physical, cognitive and behavioral competencies that are
essential to the functions of the entry level professional nurse. These competencies are considered to be the
minimum and essential skills necessary to fulfill the role of nursing. The skills and abilities essential to provide
safe and effective nursing care are varied and complex and are encountered in unique combinations in the
provision of safe and effective nursing care. Satisfactory course/clinical evaluations and progression in the
program are dependent on the student’s ability to demonstrate the physical, cognitive and behavioral standards
with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical/Motor:
 Coordinate fine and gross motor movements.
 Coordinate hand/eye movements.
 Function with both hands free for performing psychomotor tasks.
 Maneuver in small areas.
 Attend to cognitive and psychomotor tasks for up to 7-12 hours.

Examples of learning activities found in the nursing curriculum and related to industry standards:
 Transfer patients/clients in and out of bed from stretchers and wheelchairs.
 Control a fall by slowly lowering client to the floor.
 Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
 Lift or move (turn, position) patients
 Reach to shoulder or higher level to place or access equipment such as intravenous fluid bags, bend or
squat to access equipment below bed level.
 Carry equipment and supplies to the client bedside.
 Manipulate small equipment and containers, such as syringes, vials, ampules, and medication packages,
to administer medications maintaining sterile technique.
 Complete assigned periods of clinical practice (7-12 hour shifts, days, evenings, or nights).

Physical/Sensory:
 Acquire information from demonstrations and experiences, including but not limited to information
conveyed through online coursework, lecture, small group activities, demonstrations, and application
experiences.
 Collect information through observation, listening, touching, and smelling.
 Use and interpret information from physical assessments.

Examples of learning activities found in the nursing curriculum and related to industry standards:
 Detect changes in skin color or condition. (pale, ashen, gray, or bluish)
 Draw up a prescribed quantity of medication into a syringe.

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